Are you aiming to be a good parent that provides their kids with valuable life lessons? Good, your kids are happy to have you as a parent. But, even the best of us sometimes get stuck. If you don’t know which lessons to tackle with your kids, here are a few life skills every kid will cherish all through their life.
Teach them time management
This is a skill they will use all through school, college, work, and even retirement, so make sure to start early. The best thing you can do to teach your kids time management is letting them claim responsibility for their time. For instance, get them an alarm clock they can use to wake up for school. Grab a planner they can use to track homework, extra-curricular things and chores. Soon, they will realize just how valuable time is.
Teach them first-aid
No matter how careful you are, your kids will undoubtedly get hurt. But don’t worry, most injuries are nothing but small cuts, bruises or bites—nothing a band-aid can’t solve. In case of more significant issues, your kid must know where your first-aid kit is placed, what it contains, and how to use what’s in the kit. You can even talk about CPR and what to do in case of a life-threatening injury. Kids are fast learners—they will remember these important lessons forever.
Teach them English
English is an international language number one. You can hear it practically wherever you go. If your family doesn’t come from an English speaking country, it’s essential to start teaching your kids this language as early as possible. Ask anyone from an East Asian country. In places like China, South Korea or Japan, people invest a lot of money into English learning. For instance, you can check out the renowned Monkey Tree in Hong Kong and their language teaching programs. They work with even the youngest of kids and provide a fun learning environment. On the other hand, if you’re a native English speaker, there are always teaching jobs you can look into.
Teach them self-defence
Today’s world’s not safe. You can’t be there to protect your kids 24/7. Luckily, there are few tricks you can teach your kids that will make them at least a little safer and more confident in dangerous situations. There are also practical self-defence classes for boys and girls where professionals will teach proper techniques and what to do when in danger.
Teach them smart tech use
No matter what some people think, technology is our friend. However, we should take the same approach to digital content as we take to food. Empty calories like Instagram or Candy Crush should be enjoyed occasionally, while healthy websites like How Stuff Works, Nat Geo Kids or CoolMath can be enjoyed more freely. Warn your kids about the dangers of social media abuse and teach them to have a healthy dose of scepticism when gathering info online.
Teach them about money management
This might be the most basic but also the most important life skills. For starters, you can give your kids pocket money that they need to stretch for one or two weeks and use for their expenses. If they want something more expensive, they will need to save up. Another great lesson comes from comparative shopping. Teach them about prices, best deals, discounts, and quality-vs-quantity—these will come in handy once they leave home and start to manage their expenses on their own.
These are so many other lessons you can teach your kid (eco-friendliness, cooking, fitness, social etiquette, etc.), and you will have plenty of time to get to them. But, these aforementioned skills can put them on the right path and give them an edge in life.
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